March 2021: List of data breaches & attacks

PC Fix Speed is a Potentially Unwanted Program designed to improve the speed of your computer. This program usually comes bundled with other software, and when installs automatically scan your PC and displays exaggerated messages on the status of the PC’s performance, to get users to pay for the PRO version of the software. It also adds registry entities that allow it to run each time the computer is started, and the application itself will constantly keep reminding users that they have errors by putting the application windows on top.

From the Author: The Service is provided by PCRx through Crawler, LLC. Clean and repair your PC’s registry, optimize PC performance and free up disk and memory space. With everything you do on your PC, including adding on devices, a new entry is created in your Windows® registry, and seldom are any removed after they’re no longer needed. As a result, your PC gets bogged down with unnecessary entries, slowing your PC speed, the start-up, and your Internet browser. PC Fix Speed cleans up registry entries and puts your PC back on track for optimal performance. PC Fix Speed is an essential application that should be a part of every computer. PC Fix Speed especially helps computers that are unusually slow, freeze up often or show error messages, by cleaning the system registry and improving overall performance.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you have ever downloaded software from the internet (shareware, freeware, etc,), it’s quite possible you’ve unconsciously installed unwanted programs on your computer system. A Potentially Unwanted Program, often known as PUP, in short, is software that contains adware, installs toolbars, or has other hidden goals. These kinds of programs are usually bundled up with free applications that you download from the internet or will also be bundled inside the custom installers on many download sites. It’s clear by its name – unwanted programs – but did not actually constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. An important difference between malware and PUP is distribution. Malware is normally dropped through vulnerability exploitation while PUP gets installed with the consent of the user, who intentionally or unwittingly approves the PUP installation on their computer. PUP developers can argue their programs aren’t malicious software however, it can nevertheless be unsafe software and put your PC at risk much the same way malware does.

Exactly how do PUPs look like?

Unwanted programs come in various forms. More often, they can be found in adware bundlers which are known to utilize aggressive and misleading advertising. Most bundlers install many adware programs from a number of vendors, each of which possesses its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware entirely eliminates this threat and safeguards your computer against unwanted programs or adware infection. Several PUPs also show up as toolbars or add-ons, mounted on your preferred web browser. These toolbars change your homepage and your search engine in the installed browser, track your web activities, control your search results with redirects and sponsored links, and eventually slow down your browser and diminish your web browsing experience. Potentially Unwanted Programs occasionally act very much like viruses or spyware. Some PUPs carry keyloggers, dialers, and other software to collect your personal details that can cause identity theft. Because of this unwanted program, your application may freeze, your security protections can get disabled which could leave your computer susceptible, your system may get ruined, and the list goes on and on.

Some tips on protecting yourself from PUPs

• Read meticulously before you install anything. Don’t click accept until you have read the fine print. There could be a clause about PUPs. • Use ONLY custom or manual install method – and don’t blindly click Next, Next, Next. • Use good anti-malware software. Try Safebytes Anti-malware which can spot PUPs and handle them as malware by flagging them for removal. • Be alert if you install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Disable or eliminate toolbars and browser extensions you don’t really need. • Only download applications from the original providers’ websites. Avoid download portals since they use their very own download manager to pack additional programs together with the initial download. Remember the fact that although PUPs could cause damage and hinder the proper function of the computer, they can’t get into your system without your consent, so be watchful not to provide them with it.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Antivirus?

Malware could cause a great deal of damage to your PC. Some malware sits in between your PC and your net connection and blocks some or all internet sites that you would like to check out. It could also prevent you from adding anything to your PC, especially the antivirus program. So what should you do when malware prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? Although this kind of issue will be tougher to get around, there are some steps you can take.

Start your computer in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to load at Windows start-up, then booting in Safe Mode should prevent it. Only the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your laptop or computer into Safe Mode. Listed below are the steps you should follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out the Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 PCs). 1) At power-on/startup, tap the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you will have an internet connection again. Now, use your web browser to download and install an anti-malware program. 4) After the application is installed, allow the diagnostic scan run to eliminate trojans and other threats automatically.

Switch to an alternate web browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular internet browser or attacking specific versions of the web browser. The ideal way to avoid this problem is to select an internet browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you safe online.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your computer for malware without needing installation. To run anti-virus from a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Make use of another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the pen drive to a USB port on the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose a USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you want to install the application. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, insert the USB drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes tool right from the thumb drive. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.

SafeBytes AntiMalware Overview

Want to download the best anti-malware software program for your system? There are various applications available that come in free and paid versions for Microsoft Windows systems. A few are good ones, some are decent, while some are merely bogus anti-malware programs that can damage your personal computer themselves! When searching for an anti-malware tool, select one which gives dependable, efficient, and complete protection against all known viruses and malware. On the list of highly recommended software is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes carries a superb track record of excellent service, and customers appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is created to assist the typical computer end user in protecting their PC from malicious threats. This tool can easily detect, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions including adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, parasites, and other potentially harmful software programs.

There are plenty of amazing features you will get with this particular security product. Here are some of the features you will like in SafeBytes.

Active Protection: SafeBytes provides a totally hands-free active protection that is set to observe, block, and remove all computer threats at its first encounter. This utility will always keep track of your PC for suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat landscape. Anti-Malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your computer system. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard-to-remove malware that hides deep inside your PC. Web protection: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes informs you whether a site is safe or not to access it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the web. Low Memory/CPU Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-of-use anti-virus and antimalware solution. As it uses very little computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Premium Support: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and updates for the best user experience. SafeBytes has developed a wonderful anti-malware solution that can help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. You can rest assured that your computer system will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software to use. So if you need sophisticated forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware will be well worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not want to use malware removal software and prefer to get rid of PC Fix Speed manually, you might do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and removing the offending software; in cases of web browser plug-ins, you could un-install it by going to the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. You will definitely also want to reset your browser. Finally, examine your hard drive for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstalls. However, this is a tough task and only computer professionals can perform it safely. Moreover, some malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to get rid of. It is advised that you carry out the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.

If by any chance you are working on a touchscreen PC, tablet, or any similar device and have no access to a hardware keyboard there is a way to place Touch Keyboard on your screen for easy typing, and you can enable icon on the taskbar for easy access.

Enabling the Touch Keyboard

1. Right-click on the Taskbar
2. Select Taskbar Settings
3. Go to Personalization > Taskbar
4. Click on Taskbar Corner Icons to expand it
5. Click on the switch next to Touch Keyboard to turn it ON
6. Close settings

The icon will immediately appear on the Taskbar in the lower right corner. Clicking the icon virtual keyboard will appear on the lower part of the screen. You can use this keyboard to type in applications the same as you were typing on hardware one. By taping on X in the upper right corner, you will hide the keyboard. Tap on the icon in Taskbar to bring it up again.

Hide the Taskbar icon

If you do not want to use Touch Keyboard anymore you can easily hide the icon:

1. Right-click on the Taskbar
2. Select Taskbar Settings
3. Go to Personalization > Taskbar
4. Click on Taskbar Corner Icons to expand it
5. Click on the switch next to Touch Keyboard to turn it OFF
6. Close settings

When you run a program in Windows 10, error 0xc000012f may pop up, mentioning that the files and binaries you’re trying to run are corrupted. Error 0xc000012f means Bad Image, denoting that the program’s executable or one of the supporting modules is corrupt. Or there is probably a DLL mismatch. This error usually manifests itself after a windows update or after installation of some application, in order to fix it follow the steps below:

1. Perform SFC scan

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu From the menu choose command prompt (admin) In command prompt type sfc /scannow and press ENTER Leave the computer for the operation to be completed and Reboot your computer

2. Run DISM

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu From the menu choose command prompt (admin) in command prompt type: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press ENTER wait for the process to be finished and Reboot your computer

3. Reinstall application

   If this error has been popping up after the application install remove the installed application and install it again. There is the possibility that the application installer has by accident corrupted some files, reinstalling it might fix the issue.

4. Uninstall Windows update

   In some cases, Windows update can introduce this issue, go to Windows updates, into advanced options, and uninstall the latest update to see if this will fix the error.

5. Install Visual C++ Redistributable

   Go to the official Microsoft website and download C++ redistributable package and install it

6. Install new windows update

   If there is a new Windows update install, there is a chance that in the last update something went wrong and it is very likely that it was fixed in the last one.

Error Code 0x801901F7 – What is it?

Error code 0x801901F7, also known as “The Server Stumbled” error because it shows a message saying “The Server Stumbled. We all have bad days” is associated with Windows Store. Server Stumbled Error 0x801901F7 is an error related to the MS server. The error occurs due to damaged registry files, malware, virus, and corrupted data. You should fix this error to prevent a system crash or a BSOD error. There are some things you can do to fix it. These are not so complex. So, anyone can try these methods to fix error 0x801901F7. Common Symptoms for error 0x801901F7:

• Problems with Windows startup
• System becomes very slow or the system freezes
• Blue screen of death appears
• Windows fails to start some process due to Stop error code 0x801901f7

Solution

Error Causes

• This error is generally caused by corrupt registry files.
• Virus infection can cause this problem.
• Outdated driver, missing .DLL files may also cause this error.
• Microsoft server overload may cause this problem as well.
• Incorrect configuration may cause this problem.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix error 0x801901f7, there are four methods listed below. Some might work for you and some might not. Please try all of them to fix this error.

Method 1:

Basic method to fix error code 0x801901F7: Resetting Windows Store Cache Most of the time clearing or resetting the cache helps. It doesn't always work, but you should try this first before moving on to some advanced methods which are mentioned below. To reset the Windows Store cache please follow the simple steps below

• Open RUN by searching or pressing "Windows Key + R"
• Type "wsreset.exe" and press Enter or click on OK.
• Windows Store will open automatically along with a command prompt.
• This will reset Windows Store and you might see it loading as it should.

This method might work but if it fails to solve Error 0x801901F7 then follow the method below.

Method 2:

Advanced method of fixing error code 0x801901F7: Deleting Windows Store database file. By using this method, you will be deleting the database file for Windows Store. This file is located on your C drive or the drive where you installed your Operating System. Follow the steps below.

1. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStoreDataStore.edb.
2. Delete DataStore.edb file from there.
3. Now Open Windows Store and see if you still get error code 0x801901F7.

The Datastore.edb file that you deleted will be automatically created once you perform Step 3 which is launching Windows Store. If you still cannot get this error away then Close Windows Store and Reboot your PC then Launch Windows Store Again.

Method 3:

Modifying Windows update properties: Perform the steps below only if the above-mentioned methods fail. You will be tweaking a few things in the Windows update to see if it helps.

1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking on Taskbar, then click on Task Manager.
2. Go to Services Tab. Click on Open Services at the very bottom of the Window.
3. Now a new window will pop up. Scroll down & find "Windows Update" from the list.
4. Double click on Windows update to open up its Properties.
5. Now from the Startup Type drop-down list, select Automatic. Click on Apply, Start, and then Ok.

Now you need to perform just one more step. Reset Windows Store again (Refer to method 1 for Steps). This should fix your Windows Store error that shows The Server Stumbled with 0x801901F7 Error Code.

Method 4: 

If the error is due to a problem with a driver, then follow the method below to uninstall the current driver:

1. Open the Run command and type “sysdm.cpl” in the text box.
2. Click Enter.
3. Open the Hardware tab on the system properties dialog box.
4. Then press on Device Manager.
5. Double press on Device type and then press on the hardware device that is reporting error code 0x801901F7.
6. Go to the Driver tab and press on Uninstall button to uninstall the device driver completely.
7. Now, install the new driver on your computer.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Run virus scan of your PC
10. Try using a different USB port.

If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

If you are trying to connect to the internet using the Microsoft Edge browser but encountered an error message instead that says, “Can’t connect to the proxy server”, read on as this post will show you how you can fix this error. This kind of error in Microsoft Edge could be caused by incorrect proxy settings or worse, malware. To fix this error, here are some suggestions you need to check out:

Option 1 – Try to check your internet connection

The first thing you can do to resolve the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error in Microsoft Edge is to check your internet connection. There are times when your internet connection or Wi-Fi router can cause such problems. In such cases, you have to ensure that you have a valid internet source and if you are using a Wi-Fi router, you can try to use another connection and then see if the error is gone or not.

Option 2 – Try to disable the manual proxy set up from the Settings

In case you miss it, there is actually an option in the Settings panel that you can use to set up proxy in your Windows 10 computer. So if you encounter the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error, you should disable manual proxy for the meantime and check if it fixed the error or not.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
• Then go to Network & Internet > Proxy.
• And on your right-hand side, ensure that the Automatically detect settings are enabled and that the Use a proxy server option under the Manual proxy setup is disabled.
• Now try to open any website again and see if the problem’s fixed.

Option 3 – Try disabling the VPN

Like pointed out earlier, if you are using VPN, this could be the reason why you’re getting the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error so the most obvious thing to do is for you to turn off the VPN and try to load a website in Edge again. And if you use a VPN software that works using their software, you can just completely exit or log-off from its account. On the other hand, if you are using a built-in Windows 10 VPN, you can simply turn it off or delete all the settings you have created there.

Option 4 – Disable the proxy server for your LAN

If your PC was just attacked by some adware or malware as of late, it is possible that it has changed the network settings in the system and might display spam advertisements. Thus, you have to disable the proxy server for your LAN. To do that, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 5 – Temporarily disable Firewall and third-party antivirus

Firewall and antivirus programs are known to block files the instant it detects a threat to the system. However, there are some cases when it can also block a file even when it’s a safe one. Thus, your antivirus or firewall programs might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To isolate the issue, you need to temporarily disable both the Firewall and antivirus programs and then check if you can now download anything from the internet. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.

Option 6 – Clear the browsing data of Microsoft Edge

• Open Microsoft Edge.
• Then click on the three horizontal dots to open the menu.
• From there, click on Settings. And under Settings, click the “Choose what to clear” button under the Clear browsing data section.
• Next, check all the checkboxes and then click the Clear button to clear the browsing data in the Edge browser.
• Restart Edge.

Option 7 – Try to reset, repair or reinstall Edge via Settings

You can reset, repair or reinstall the Edge browser through Settings. If none of it helped, you can try the following:

• Open File Explorer and then go to this path – C:/Users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/Packages

Note: Before you type in the path in the Address bar, make sure that you put your user account name in place with the “YourUsername”.

• Tap Enter to proceed.
• Next, look for the folder named “MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” then right-click on it.
• Click on Properties and uncheck the option “Read-only” under the General tab in the Properties window.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
• After that, look for the MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder again and delete it. And if a prompt stating “Folder Access Denied” appears on your screen, just click on the Continue button to proceed – doing so will delete most of the content inside the folder except for the folder named “AC”.
• Restart your PC.
• Now all you have to do is to re-register Microsoft Edge using PowerShell. In the Start Menu, search “Windows PowerShell”.
• Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Type in this command in the PowerShell windows and tap Enter – Cd C:/Users/YourUsername

Note: Once again, make sure that you key in your user account name in place of “YourUsername.

• After that, type in this command and tap Enter – Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
• Restart your PC.

Option 8 – Scan your computer for malware using Windows Defender

Your computer could be infected with malware which might have triggered the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error. To fix this, you need to scan your computer using a reliable program like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

One of the most common hardware issues with any PC usually has something to do with the hard drive so if your hard drive experiences some errors, you could end up losing a lot of important information that’s stored in your computer. This is why Windows provided users with the CHKDSK utility which helps in looking for bad sectors on the drive. However, there are times when the CHKDSK utility could also face issues like the following error:

“Failed to transfer logged messages to the log event with status 50.”

According to security experts, this error is most likely due to the hard drive or RAM being in a “Read-only” state. It could also be due to some physical issues with the hard drive. On the other hand, it could be that the system is prevented from creating logs by some drive, service, or malware. To fix this error, you have to check if the hard disk is writable. You could also try to run the CHKDSK utility in Safe Mode or you could also check the physical status of your hard disk or external drive.

Option 1 – Check if the hard disk is writable

Although the CHKDSK utility checks for bad sectors in the hard drive, it also has to create logs of the result. And as states in the error message, the CHKDSK utility is not able to log the logged messages. This kind of error occurs when the log can’t be written to an installation disk. You can find the log in this location, “C:WindowsSystem32LogfilesSrtSrtTrail.txt”. Now you have to check if the drive writable by following these steps:

• Log in as administrator and right-click on the system drive.
• Select Properties and then go to the Security tab. Here, check if you are allowed to modify the drive. If not, click on Edit (as an administrator).
• Now edit the permissions for the SYSTEM and Administrators group. Note that these are the only default settings for these two groups or usernames.
• Then click on the Apply button save the changes made and exit.

Option 2 – Run the CHKDSK utility in Safe Mode

You could also try to run the CHKDSK utility in Safe Mode as this might solve the error.

• Boot your computer in Safe Mode.
• Next, open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type and enter this command to execute it: chkdsk c: /f /r
• Wait until the process is completed and boot your computer normally and then run the CHKDSK utility again and check if the “Failed to transfer logged messages to the log event with status 50” error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Try to check the hard disk or external drive physically

If the first two options didn’t work, you might want to check the physical status of your hard disk or external drive as the problem could root from there. You can try to tighten the wires that connect the hard disk to the motherboard. However, if it doesn’t help, you should seek out assistance from a hardware technician.

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen - What is it?

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT is a blue screen of death error code. It occurs when the PFN (Page Frame Number) list becomes corrupt. The Page Frame Number is basically used by your hard drive to determine your location of each one of your files on the disk. This error may occur when starting up the program or while using it. Blue screen of death errors occurs without any warnings. The program disrupts all of a sudden and the computer screen turns blue.

Solution

Error Causes

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen error may occur due to multiple reasons. Some of the common reasons include:

• Hardware problems
• Device driver issues
• Registry problems
• Viral Infection

It is recommended to resolve the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen of Death error immediately without any delay virtually because this error can be quite fatal to your PC. It can pose serious threats to your system like system freeze, crash, failure, and valuable data loss. Furthermore, if the error is related to viral infection, it can expose you to privacy issues, data breaches, and cybercrime too.

Further Information and Manual Repair

This is a critical PC error but easy to resolve. You don’t need any technical expertise to fix this error on your PC. Here are some quick and easy methods to resolve PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen error:

Method 1: Install Compatible Device Drivers

Sometimes when new hardware is added to the PC, you need to install updated versions of the device drivers to ensure there are no incompatibility issues. Incompatibility between the hardware and device drivers may generate PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen of death error on your screen. To resolve, it is advisable to download and install the latest updated versions of the device drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

Method 2: Scan for Viruses

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen of Death error may occur due to viral infection too. Viruses and spyware enter your PC when you log on to unreliable websites and download programs from there or open phishing emails on your PC. These viruses corrupt and damage programs and files resulting in such errors. To fix the issue, you need to install a powerful antivirus and ensure all kinds of viruses and spyware are detected and removed from your system.

Method 3: Clean and Restore the Registry

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen error indicates poor PC maintenance. When you don’t clean and remove unnecessary and obsolete files like junk files, bad registry keys, cookies, internet history, temporary files, and invalid entries from the registry, the registry overloads and gets damaged. These files accumulate taking up a lot of disk space and also corrupt system files. If these files are not removed timely, it results in registry issues like a blue screen of death errors and run-time errors. To remove these files and clean the registry, you need to install a powerful registry cleaner. Whether the underlying cause for PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen of Death error on your PC is viral infection or registry issues, to resolve the BSOD error code in seconds download Restoro. This is a cutting-edge and multi-functional PC fixer deployed with both an antivirus and a registry cleaner. Additional features include a system optimizer too. It is user-friendly and easy to operate. You can download it on all Windows versions without any hassle. It is safe and bug-free. The registry cleaner feature scans and removes all unnecessary files, cleans and repairs the registry while the antivirus utility simultaneously removes all kinds of malicious software including spyware, viruses, Trojans, and malware. Click here to download Restoro now and resolve the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen of Death error immediately!

Error code 0Xc004F074 - What is it?

Did you previously use Windows 7 or 8 but decided to run with the latest Windows 0S, Windows 10? An early error message encountered was activation error code 0Xc004F074. Error code 0Xc004F074 is manifested when the user fails to activate Windows directly after the installation of Windows 10. This occurs if the previous operating system on your computer was Key Management Service (KMS) activated.

The KMT provides a more seamless operation when users are activating volume license editions of Microsoft Windows and Office. This process tends to be clear to end-users of the system.

Symptoms of error code 0Xc004F074 include:

• Windows is unable to reach your company’s activation service.
• The Key Management Service is unavailable.

Solution

Error Causes

Various factors might incite error code 0Xc004F074. A primary cause is a discrepancy or difference between the KMS client and the KMS host machine. The host computer could possibly be operating a Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008, while the client runs on OS Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. To supplement, the computer’s time might be a contributing factor. The time on the host machine and client might show a difference (Usually the host time exceeds 4 hours).

Further Information and Manual Repair

To rectify error code 0Xc004F074, users are advised to try various methods. These methods include:

1. Method 1: Update Your KMS Host 9 (Windows Server 2003)

Are you running later versions of Windows Server? Use an update that fixes or installs KMS on your computer. The update is available on Microsoft’s website. Keep clearly in mind that the update is only for Windows Server 2013 Service Pack 1 and later versions of Windows Server 2003.

2. Method 2: Update Your KMS Host 9 (Windows Server 2008)

This step is similar to the aforementioned. However, it applies to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This ensures the service is extended to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

3. Method 3: Update the Time

It was previously mentioned that the time reflected on the KMS host and client might cause error code 0Xc004F074 to manifest. A simple fix to adhere to is to always ensure that the time between both is updated. To Resync the time on the client, execute the following command.

w32tm /resync

4. Method 4: Uninstall the Existing KMS

For this method to be successfully deployed, you’ll need to have in your possession an activation key or KMSpico Key. As you cannot apply the new key with the existing one, remove or uninstall the initial key. To perform this step, open the command prompt. This should be done while the computer is in admin mode. Then, run the command

(slmgr.vbs /dlv)

It should be executed without the brackets and before you have removed the existing key.

After executing the command, you’ll encounter the description:

Windows(R) Operating System, VOLUME_KMS_WS12_R2 channel

Move along with the process by applying the slmgr.vbs /upk to uninstall the existing KMS key.

After the old key is uninstalled, you’re ready to apply the following:

slmgr.vbs /ipk <NewKMSProductKey>

To check if things are in place and complete the process, follow the steps below: PC Settings >Update and Security > Activation

5. Method 5: Download an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

As you know, the Win + X menu, which is the shortcut context menu, is a useful way to launch several utilizes in Windows such as Power Options, Windows PowerShell, Event Viewer, Device Manager, and so on. However, there are times when you might experience difficulty in identifying the required utility. This is actually a part of the Windows 10 shell that goes out of scope in the customization of Windows 10. However, there is an easy trick you can use to do that. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can rename the options in the Win + X menu in Windows 10. In case you don’t know, the context menu is divided into three groups. Microsoft has categorized the bottom-most part as Group 1, while the middle part is categorized as Group 2 and the first part as Group 3. To rename these options, you need to use File Explorer and follow the instructions laid out below. Step 1: First, tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer. Step 2: Next, navigate to this path: %LocalAppdata%MicrosoftWindowsWinX Step 3: From there, you should see three folders as Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. Open the appropriate folder of your choice. Step 4: After that, right-click on the shortcut option you want to rename and then select Properties. Step 5: Next, navigate to the Shortcut tab under the Properties window. Step 6: Now in the text field of Comment, enter the new name of the option you selected. Step 7: Click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made. Note: You can now either Sign back in or sign out of your Windows 10 User Account to see the result of the changes you’ve made. You could also restart the process of File Explorer via Task Manager. This will close the File Explorer as well as the shell components and then only launch the shell components again. In addition, you can check the Win + X menu to see the customized name that you’ve just set for a particular option. As you can see, even though it does not add anything extra, it is still a lot better in knowing how you can customize it.

Error Code 0x80073afc - What is it?

Error code 0x80073afc deals with an antivirus program first built into Windows 8/8.1 This error occurs when Windows Defender, the built-in anti-virus software in Windows 8/8.1 and higher, does not start automatically and users attempt to manually start the program. During the initialization period of the program start-up, something goes wrong and users get a 0x80073afc Error message. The error message states there was a problem with the initialization of the program. Windows Defender provides protection of your computer and it is advised by the Microsoft Corporation that you ensure it starts up automatically on every start-up.

Solution

Further Information and Manual Repair

Users have found several manual repairs that have fixed the problem without needing to contact technicians for extra help. While the methods below should solve your problem easily, if this is the first time you have encountered the issue you may want to do a simple restart. This has fixed the problem for some users and is the easiest first troubleshooting move. If it doesn’t work move on to the methods listed below, which are easily completed without extra help.

Before trying any of these methods, please make sure that you are logged into a profile that is listed as the administrator of the computer of his administrative powers enabled. If this is not the case you will not be able to complete the following methods. Please log out and log back in on the administrator profile.

Method 1:

First, check to see if you have a third-party anti-virus program installed on your computer. Some users believe that the built-in Windows Defender program is not powerful enough to handle the safety of their computer so they usually download a third-party program. However, that program may have caused a conflict with Windows Defender and may not allow it to open. If you do have a third-party program installed, try uninstalling it then manually starting Windows Defender.

Method 2:

If method one does not work, you may be infected by malware or a virus that has tampered with the settings on your computer and will not allow Windows Defender to start automatically or manually.

First, open Run by holding the “Win” key and pressing the “R” key. Then type “Regedit”. The program will ask for permission to follow through with this action. Click on “Yes” and the Open Registry Editor will open.

Find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Option and check to see if there are any files similar to MSASCui.exe or MpCmdRun.exe. If there are any file entries that resemble that, you will want to right-click on them before selecting the “Delete” option. If you do not see any entries that match, this is not the issue with your Windows Defender and you will want to try another method.

The Registry on your computer is very important. It helps tell your computer what programs are safe to run, what programs should be run, and what programs should not be run. If it is tampered with by a virus or Malware, multiple system operations can be affected.

However, if you did find similar file names, and you deleted them, try to start Windows Defender manually. If it does not work again, move on to the next method. 

Method 3:

If the first two methods do not work for your issue, and you are still receiving error code 0x80073afc when attempting to start Windows Defender, this step should solve the problem if you have Restore Point installed on your computer, which you most likely do.

For this method, we will be restoring your computer to a previous Restore Point. First, just like in method two, hold the “Win” key and press the “R” key. This will open run. Next type “Rstrui.exe” and click “ok”. After some time, you will see System Restore Windows. Click “Next” and select the restore point that you would like to go back to. After your computer has restored to the point you selected, check to ensure that Windows Defender has started correctly.

If the above methods aren't able to rectify the issue, you might have to download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.